I HOPE THIS FINDS YOU WELL by natatlie sue

On my path to having my own novel published, I monitored book deals posted on the trade sites. I remember reading this announcement and being a) happy to see a Canadian get a good deal and b) thinking that's a book I'd want to read.

And boy, was I right about that. I bought it yesterday afternoon and finished it at 1:40 am.

This is the one about Jolene, an awkward 33-year-old with frizzy hair, who has shut herself off from fraternizing with her coworkers as a coping mechanism. Maybe I bought into her cynicism so well because I spent a career in TV where I constantly reminded people, there is no loyalty. Your coworkers claim to be 'family', but security doesn't escort Grandma to the parking lot when they've had enough of her. I often told younger people when they considered turning down family events so they could work -- none of these people will be at your funeral.

I digress. 

Jolene's email mishap (haven't we all had one?) gets her in trouble with HR, and adjustments are made to her computer settings. She's mistakenly given full access to everyone's chats and emails. At first it's hurtful to read what others think about her (isn’t it always?), but with layoffs looming she decides to use the insider information to give herself a 'leg up'. But she also decides to open up, and her journey along those parallel paths kept me turning pages when I should have been doing other things.

Witty, warm, sharp and sassy -- it was a wonderful ride.Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.